Campaign rallies are usually full of speeches and political messaging, but in West Bengal’s Jhargram, things took a lighter turn. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paused his busy schedule for a quick snack break.
Amid addressing four back-to-back rallies across Purulia, Jhargram, Medinipur and Bishnupur, the Prime Minister stopped to try jhalmuri, a popular local street food. The moment quickly caught public attention online.
A video of the interaction shows PM Modi engaging with a street vendor in a casual and friendly manner, making the moment stand out during an otherwise intense campaign day.
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PM Modi’s jhalmuri stop in Jhargram
The Prime Minister spent Sunday addressing four back-to-back rallies across Purulia, Jhargram, Medinipur and Bishnupur. In between, he stopped at a small shop in Jhargram and tried jhalmuri.
In the video, PM Modi is seen asking a street vendor for a packet of Jhalmuri. “Bhai, hame apna Jhalmuri khilao The Prime Minister, accompanied by his security personnel, then goes on to hand the seller the money for ‘Jhalmuri’, which the shopkeeper initially denies. However, PM Modi insists, saying, “Arey nahi nahi bhai, aise nahi
What PM Modi posted
PM Modi took to his X account and posted few pictures and experience about his break experience in Jhargram saying, “In between four rallies across West Bengal on a packed Sunday, had some delicious Jhalmuri in Jhargram.”
Jhalmuri break in Jhargram! pic.twitter.com/LJNjEojAW4
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 19, 2026
A viral moment during busy campaigning
Campaign stops are usually about speeches and slogans, but this small break became a memorable moment. PM Modi also shared photos of himself having jhalmuri and offering it to supporters around him.
Jhalmuri is a spicy puffed rice snack made with chillies, onions, and mustard oil. It is very popular in Bengal and added a local touch to the moment.
Political speeches and reactions
According to NDTV reports, earlier in the day, PM Modi addressed large gatherings as part of the BJP’s Vijay Sankalp Sabha campaign. His speeches targeted the ruling Trinamool Congress over issues like women’s reservation and governance.
“The women of Bengal wanted 33% reservation. Modi ensured this. The women of Bengal wanted it to be implemented from 2029. Modi also made efforts for this. But Trinamool did not want more of Bengal's daughters to become MLAs and MPs since the daughters were challenging their ‘Maha Jungle Raj',” he said.
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What Mamata Banerjee responded
As per NDTV reports, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee responded by highlighting her party’s record on women’s representation and leadership in Parliament and the state. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee rejected the allegations and highlighted her party’s record.
“We have the highest proportion of female elected representatives in both Parliament and the State Legislature. In the Lok Sabha, 37.9% of our elected members are women. In the Rajya Sabha, we have nominated 46% women members,” she said in a post online.
It is deeply unfortunate that the Prime Minister chose to mislead the nation rather than address it honestly.
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 19, 2026
Let me put this on record. Trinamool Congress has always championed higher political representation for women. We have the highest proportion of female elected…
The sudden jhalmuri stop added a simple and relatable moment to a busy political schedule. It showed a different side of the campaign beyond just speeches and strategy.
With elections coming closer, such moments help leaders connect with people in a more personal way, even as campaigning continues across the state.
